Prime mover



lpriiHJlQ, 1938. T. J. REEs PRIME MOVER Filed March 13, 1935 e sheets-sheet 1 (que muy) vALve 3mm Thomas JReeS Jllc Am PUMP April 19, 1938. J. REES 2,114,969

PRIME MovER Filed March 13, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Apnl 19, 193s. T. J. REES' PRIME MOVER Filed March 13, 1935 6 Sheets-ShamI 44 T. J. REES 2,114,969

PRIME MOVER N l Filed March 13, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 AIA PUMP n w, as:

T. J. REEs PRIME MovER Filed March 13, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 39mm Thomas IRes Patented Apr. 19, 1938 stares anges -1145.169 PRIME MovEn Thomas .I. Rees, Reno, Nev. ApplicationMarch 13, 1935, Serial N0. 10,923

1 claim (c1. so-42) This invention relates toy a prime mover, such as an internal combustion super-heated steam lless space per horse power and possessing higherl thermal efficiency than the types of heat engines now generally used, and having a compactness of form making it especially adaptable for aeroplanes'.

A further object of the invention is to provide,

in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an engine of the class referred to including a combustion chamber encompassed by and communicating with an expansion chamber supplied with a vaporized medium having its temperature increased from the heat transferred through the wall 'of the combustion chamber and by the products of combustion to result in a super-heated driving medium, under pressure, which is instantly rel leased while in its superlative quality to the rotor of the engine to perform work. Y

A further object of this invention is toprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,` an engine of the class referred to including means to burn a fuel such as butane (04H10) or kindred gases'- at constant pressure, and a combustion chamber built to a dimension, whereby the gases at vco rfiloustion temperature, will be of a volume corresponding with the volume of the combustion chamber at the determined operating pressure.

er volume than and to admix with the products of combustion, thereby generating an energy me- 50 diurn of known quality, eliminating the heat losses of the vent or chimney, diminishing the high heat losses of combustion chamber walls and thereby increasing the thermal efliciency of the engine.

55 l To the above ends essentially and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists 'of suchA parts and such combination of parts which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed; n

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of the engine,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View of the en- Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in section, show- 10' ing the form of vaporizing element used,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan on line 4 4, Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of a modified form, 15

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6, Figure 5, Figure 'l is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1,y

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the water pump, air pump, operating means common to said pumps, a reservoir, a part of the Water supply line, a part of the air supply line, the bypass between the water supply line and the reservoir and the bypass valve,

and a part ofthe power transmitting means; 25V1 showing a standard water pressure tank. 35

With reference to Figures 1 to 4. The engine, as shown, includes a rotor 1 formed of a hub 8 provided with a pair of annular flanges 9, 9. Each flange is located between the transverse center and one end of hub t, Each flange, at its outer edge, is formed throughout and circumferentially thereof withva series of segment shaped, spaced vanes Il) of like form and of a length corresponding to the width of said edge. l Each end of hub 8f is formed with an axially ar- 45 ranged socket Il and a pair of diametrically opposed sockets i2, i3 spaced from socket H. The Walls of sockets l2, i3 are threaded. The purpose `of the vaforesaid sockets will be hereinafter set forth. The casing or housing of rotor l is stationaryandit consists of a horizontally disposed cylinder le open ateach end. The cylinder I4, centrally of its top, is formed with an en-V larged opening l5 and centrally rof its botten with A" an enlarged opening i6 aligning with opening I5. 55?

Integral with the outer face of cylinder I4 and surrounding opening I6 is an annular ilanged collar I8. The rotor casing or housing includes a pair of oppositely disposed heads I9, 20 of like form. Each head includes a circular disc 2| corresponding in diameter to the outer diameter of cylinder I4. The discs 2| abut the end edges of cylinder I4 and are flush with the outer face of the latter. Each disc is formed with an axial opening 22. The Wall of opening 22 has its inner part 23 of uniform diameter and its remaining part 24 increasing in diameter from the part 22 to the outer end thereof. Each disc has its outer face formed with an annular boss or packing gland 25 which, at its inner end, surrounds and has its inner face flush with the outer end of the wall of opening 22. The inner face of boss 25 is threaded, as at 26. The discs 2| are formed with openings 21 adjacent their outer edges for registering with screw threaded sockets 28 formed in the end edges of cylinder I4. Extending through openings 21 and engaging in sockets 28 are the holdfast means 29 for clamping the heads I9, 20 to the cylinder ends.

Positioned against the ends of the hub 9 are a pair of oppositely disposed heads 30, 3| for a pair of oppositely extending power transmitting shafts 32, 33 respectively, which also provide the supporting axes of the rotor 1. The heads 30, 3| are integral at the axes of their outer faces with the inner ends of the shafts 32, 33 respectively. The heads 30, 3| are provided with countersunk openings 34, 35 which register with the sockets I2, I3 respectively. The heads 30, 3| have, axially of their inner faces, lugs 36 which are positioned in the sockets II. Extending through the openings 34, 35 and engaging with the walls of sockets I2, I3 are holdfast means 31 for anchoring heads 3|), 3| to hub 8.

Arranged within the bosses 25 are packings 38. Extending into and threadedly engaging with bosses 25 are flanged compressing and retaining nuts 39 for the packings.

Detachably connected to the heads I 9, 20, as at 39', and extending laterally therefrom are upwardly inclined supporting arms 40, 4| carrying bearing structures 42, 43 for the shafts 32, 33 respectively. The bosses 25 are provided with lubricant supply means, as at 44. The heads I9, 20 are spaced from the heads 30, 3| respectively.

The engine includes a housing 45 of spherical contour formed of upper and lower semi-spherical sections 46, 41 respectively, disposed in superimposed relation. The section 46, centrally of its top, is formed with a large opening 48 surrounded by an annular boss 49. The section 46 has its bottom edge 50 formed centrally thereof with an annular bead The section 46, at its bottom, is provided with an outwardly directed annular flange 52 ilush at its lower face with edge 5D. The section 41 has its top edge 52 provided with an annular groove 53 in which is seated bead 5|. The section 41, at its top, is formed with an outwardly directed annular flange 54 having its upper face flush with edge 52. The section 41 is provided, centrally of its bottom, with an opening 55 of less diameter than that of opening 48. The section 41 includes. at its bottom, a depending tubular extension 56 having its inner face registering with the Wall of opening 55. The extension 56 has intermediate its ends a peripheral annular flange 51 which seats on the boss I1. The extension 56, between flange 51 and its lower end, is formed with a pair of spaced aligning openings 58 extending at opposite inclinations. Anchored in each of the openings 58 is a nozzle 59. Each nozzle has its inner face gradually decreasing in diameter from its intake end to a point inwardly adjacent its transverse median, as at 59', and then gradually increasing in diameter from such point to its outlet end, as at 59". The part 59" is of greater length and diameter than part 59' (Figure 4). The extension 56 projects into the opening 6|] between the flanges 9, 9' of the rotor. Each nozzle 59 is positioned to discharge between the inner ends of the Vanes I0 carried by a flange 9 or 9. The lower end of extension 56 is closed by a plug 6| having its upper end of concave curvature, as at 62. The curved end of plug 6| is flush with the inner end of the lower part of the inner faces of the nozzles. The ange 51 is anchored to the boss I1 by the holdfast means 63. The sections 46, 41 of housing 45 are secured together by the holdfast means 63 coacting with the flanges 52, 54. These latter are aperturcd for the passage of the said means 63.

Suspended within and spaced throughout from the inner face of the housing 45 is a casting 64. The casting 64 is suspended at its upper end from the upper section 46 of the housing 45. The casting 64 is formed of an open top hollow body part 65 of frusto-elliptical contour in vertical section, terminating at its upper end in a vertical neck 66 formed on the upper portion of its outer periphery with threads 61. At the point of joinder of the lower end of neck 6 with body part 65, the casting 64 is formed with an annular shoulder 68. 'Ihe body part 65 is provided with spaced outwardly directed downwardly inclined ports 69. The lower end of body part 65 is formed centrally thereof with an opening and a depending short tubular outlet nipple 1| having its inner face ush with the wall of opening 10. The nipple 1| is spaced above opening 55, aligns with the latter and has its inner diameter less than the inner diameter of extension 56. The neck 66 extends upwardly through opening 48 to above the boss 49. The casting 64 is suspended within housing 45 by an interiorly threaded collar 12 in connection with shoulder 68. Collar 12 engages the threaded portion 61 of neck 66 and, when screwed home, it abuts boss 49 and causes shoulder 68 to abut the inner face of section 46 of housing 45. The inner face of neck 66 is threaded throughout, as at 13, for a purpose to be referred to.

The housing 45, in connection with the body part 65 of casting 64, provides an expansion chamber 14 having its outlet provided by the extension 56. rI'he body part 65 of casting 64 provides a combustion chamber communicating with the expansion chamber 14 by means of the ports 69 and nipple 1| The outlet of chamber 15 is provided by nipple 1|.

Positioned within, secured to and extending outwardly from neck 66 is a tubular burner 16 having its lower end 11 curved, flush with and forming a continuation of the inner face of body part 65 of casting 64. The lower portion of the outer periphery of burner 16 is formed with threads 19 for engagement with the threads 13 of neck 66.

Disposed at opposite inclinations with respect to the axis of and extending into housing 45 at the upper portion thereof, is a pair of water supply elements 80, 8| having their inner ends positioned in close proximity to the upper part of opposite sides of the body part 65 of casting 64, The elements 80. 8| open into the upper portion of chamber 14. The housing section 46 is formed with a pair of screw threaded openings 82, only one shown. These openings are located adjacent opposite sides of the boss 49. Each water supply element is formed at the inner portion of its outer periphery with threads 83 (Figure 3) for engagement with the threads of a wall of an opening 82. A lock nut 84 is carried by each water supply element and abuts the outer face of housing section 46. Each water supply element is formed with an internal socket 85 opening at its inner end, a ared port 86 opening into the socket 85 at the base of the latter, and a water conducting channel 81 leading from its outer end to and merging into the large end of the port 86. The wall of socket 85 is threaded. Mounted in the socket 85 and projecting from the inner end of the element is a vaporizing member 38 formed axially thereof with a port 89 which registersl at its outer end with the smaller end of port 86 and merges at its inner end into a plurality of oppositely inclined ports 90 discharging into chamber 14. The periphery of member 88 is threaded for engagement with the threaded wall of socket 85.

Encompassing that portion of extension 56 above flange 51, the housing sections 46, 41, anges 52, 54, holdfast means 63', boss 49, collar 61 and a portion of burner 16 is an insulating body 9| of greater thickness than housings sections 46, 41. Encasing the body 9| is a sectional metallic spherical shell 92 having openings 93, 94 respectively for the extension therethrough of a part of flange 51 and the projection therefrom of the upper portion 95 of the burner 16. Mounted on the latter and secured to shell 92 is a flanged cap member 96 formed with a pair of openings 91, 98 for a purpose to be referred to.

The engine includes a fuel tank 99 arranged above the shell 92. The tank is of any well-known construction as shown in Figure 10 including a hand hole opening 99a with a removable cover plate 99h. An opening 99C in the top of the tank allows the connection between the air relief valve 98 and the pipe coil |00 which is inside of the tank 99. An opening 99j in the tank connects the fuel supply in thev tank with the fuel supply pipe H2. An opening 99d at the side of the tank allows the end of the coil |99 to extend therethrough and to be connected to the air supply pipe H9. Within the tank 99 is positioned the coiled air pipe |99 which has connected therewith, intermediate its ends7 .an air relief valve |98 connected through the opening 99e. The air relief valve |98 is of any well-known construction. It may be of a construction as indicated in Figure 9. This relief valve includes a casing Iila. which communicates with the inlet pipe |9813. For closing the opening in the inlet pipe, there is provided an ordinary disk valve |880. The valve is provided with a stem I98d aboutwhich is placed a spring |882' which abuts against a wall ||J8g at one end and against the valve |980 at the other end. This spring normally holds the Valve on its seat. When pressure exceeds a definite amount, the spring is compressed and the valve is lifted from its seat allowing the iluid pressure to be r-elieved by way of the openings |9811..

The engine includes a water reservoir I0! which is arranged below the power transforming means I4. At the end of the water reservoir is a water pump |92 interconnected at the point lilla by means of the opening I8 Ic which is controlled by an ordinary flap type check valve I 9 Id. An opening |8|e places the pump in communication with the inlet IIIIc. The outlet IIlIb` of the pump is also controlled by flap type check valve IDIg, This is indicated as a simple type of force pump, it being understood that any appropriate and suitable pump may be utilized.

The reservoir is also arranged with a pressure relief valve |99 connected thereto so as to always provide a means for relieving any excess pressure in this tank.

The -engine also includes the air pump |93 indicated as a simple reciprocating pump having its outlet to the pipe H4 controlled by means of a flap type check valve i|4a pivoted at I|4b1 and having a similar type airinlet valve at i13a. The pump |93 forces air into the lower end of the air line H4 which connects with the coil |99 in the iuel tank.I The air line H4, intermediate its ends as at I|4c, extends through the insulating body 9| as indicated in Figures l and 7,

The water pressure tank I 84 is of any standard construction, one typical arrangement being indicated in Figure 13, wherein it has an intake opening E940. at the bottom and an outlet |941) at the side. The intake I94a is at the upper end of the water supply line I I6, the check valve I1 being intermediate the Water supply pipe H6 and.

the tank H34. The outlet |845 communicates with the Water pipe |29 by means of the throttle valve IZi. At the lower end of the water supply pipe H8 is positioned a valve controlled bypass H5 as indicated in Figure 1. The disk M15 is driven by the drive shaft |96 and .in turn imparts a reciprocating motion to the piston rods |93a and 692e of the air pump and water pump respectively. These piston rods are connected to the rotatable disk It by the eccentric pin |95c to which is pivotally connected the crank arms |93c and i920, These crank arms are respective- 1y connected to the piston rods by the interconnecting couplings |991)` and I92b.

The disk |95 is operated from the drive connection i 99 coupled to the shaft 32. A condenser S91 is arranged to-receive the exhaust by way of pipe ||8 from-the powertransforming means I4 and to condense thewater vapor returning it to the water tank ii by way of the pipe |I9. Leading from the coil |99 in the tank 99 and extending through the opening 91 and `discharging into the burner 18 is the air supply line |I9 provided with an air throttle valve III. Also leading from the tank 99 and extending through an opening 98 and discharging into the burner 'i8 is a fuel supply line IIZ provided with a throttle valve IIS. The water line H5 is also embedded for a portion of its extent as at ||6a in the insulating body 9|. Coupled to the iiange collar I8 and extending to the upper end of the condenser B91 is the exhaust line H9. Leading from the bottom of the condenser !91 to the reservoir |9| is the Water return line H9. Leading from the tank |94 to the elements 89 and 8| is the water feed line I 25 provided with a throttle valve IBI Associated with each set of vanes I9 is a set of stationary re-entry vanes and a set of stationary blind end vanes, The re-entry and blind end vanes which associate with one set of vanes E9 are formed in a single block and those which' associate with the other set of vanes I8 are also arranged in a single block. The blocks are of arcuate form and designated |22, I 23. The blocks are positioned within the upper portion of cylinder I4 and, when positioned, the vanes in one block are oppositely disposed with respect to the vanes in the other block. The blocks are arranged against the inner face of the top of cylinder I4 in a sidewise opposed parallel spaced relation. Each block is formed with a pair of nonaligning slots |24, |25 disposed lengthwise thereof. The inner side of each block is to oppose the outer end of a set of vanes I0. Holdfast means |26 coact with the slots |24, |25 for adjustably connecting the blocks to cylinder I4, whereby the blocks may be adjusted to suit operating temperature. The vanes of each stationary set of re-entry vanes are designated |28, |29 and |30 and have their ends flush with the inner side edge |30 of a block. The block is formed with channels I 3|, 32, I 33, each consisting of a curved stretch I 34 and an inclined stretch |35. The outer end of stretch |34 is at the edge |30'. The inner end of stretch |34 merges into the inner end of stretch |35. The outer end of stretch |35 is at the edge |30. The stretch |35 is of greater length than stretch I 34. The channels progressively decrease in length from channel |3I to channel |33. The channel |3| is arranged between vane |28 and the body of the block. Channel |32 is arranged between vanes |28 and |29. Channel |33 is arranged between vanes |29 and |30. The stretches |35 of the channels are arranged parallel to each other. The vanes of each stationary set of blind end vanes are indicated at |36, |31 and |38, and are formed in vane |30. Between the vanes |36, |31 and |38 are arranged the inclined parallel pockets |39, |40 and |4| respectively, opening at edge |30.

The stationary vanes are so constructed that very small expansion of the steam takes place Within them, the steam re-entering the moving vanes I0 with the same velocity it attained when entering the stationary vanes. Thus the energy available in the vapor is obtained in the speed of the wheel.

'Ihe operating temperature having been determined, the velocity of the super-heated vapor computed, the speed of the vanes I0 with a single re-entry should be about one-fourth the velocity of the vapor. When the wheel speed increases beyond one-fourth the vapors velocity, the vanes |0 are carried beyond the re-entry vane so that the vapor would contact the blind end vanes, the resistance thus o'ered the vapor would reduce the wheel speed to normal. The blind end vanes simplify speed control.

The ports 69 in the combustion chamber wall are to allow the high temperature products of combustion to gradually increase the temperature of the vapor so that the mixing of the gases will be complete when the medium enters the expanding nozzles 59.

The nozzles 59 are constructed of a chrome nickel alloy and installed on opposite sides of extension 56, releasing the superheated vapor to the vanes I0 of the rotor simultaneously, thereby eliminating side-thrust.

The vaporizers are installed at the furthest suitable point from the discharge opening so that the injected medium may contact the outer peripheral surface of the wall of the combustion chamber 15.

Into the expansion or steam chamber water is injected through the Vaporizers under a pressure similar to the fuel pressure. The quantity of water injected depending on the determined operating temperature, the pressure and volume of the super-heated vapor coordinated by the cubical dimension of the expansion or steam chamber. The expansion chamber is built to a cubical dimension corresponding to the volume of the combustion chamber plus the volume of the super-heated vapor plus the volume of the products of combustion at the operating steam temperature.

Fuel and air under pressure is injected into the combustion chamber. 'I'he air is compressed by the pressure pump |03 and conveyed by the line 4 to a pipe coil |00 installed within the fuel tank 99. The pressure within the coil is regulated by the valve |08. The air is admitted to the burner 16 on opening the throttle valve I I The fuel is released by the throttle valve I I3 and conveyed to the burner by the line H4. Combustion takes place in the chamber 15.

Water is introduced from the reservoir I0| by the pump |02 through the line I I6 into the pressure tank |04. On opening the throttle Valve |2| the water is distributed by the conducting elements 80, 8| to the Vaporizers 80 and injected into the expansion chamber 14 as Vapor to contact the hot gases of the combustion chamber 15, absorbing the products of combustion escaping through the ports 69. The energy medium is released through and expanded by the nozzles 58 to the vanes I0 and returned by the re-entry vanos to the vanes |0, conveyed by the exhaust pipe I I8 to the condenser |01 and returned to the reservoir IGI to be used over again.

The valve controlled by-pass |I5 installed in the water line ||6 regulates the water feed when the thermal pressure exceeds the operating working pressure. The excess water is returned by the by-pass ||5 to the reservoir IOI.

With reference to Figures 5 and 5. They disclose a modied form of an internal combustion super-heated steam engine, in accordance with this invention. The modication relates to the employment of a series of burners |42, a combustion chamber |43 common thereto, an expansion chamber |44 encompassing the combustion chamber, a series oi water conducting elements |45, each provided at its inner end with a vaporizer |46 discharging into the expansion chamber |44.

In Figure 5, the casting |41 which provides the combustion chamber |43 is of annular semi-oval contour in vertical section and open at its upper end. The housing |48 which coacts with the casting |41 to provide the expansion chamber 44 is formed of an open top laterally flanged annular section |49 of semi-oval contour in vertical section and a flat section |50 which interengages with section |49. Holdfast means |5I are employed for securing the housing sections together. The bottom of housing section |48 is constructed in the same manner as housing section 41 shown in Figure 2.

The burners |42 are of the same construction as the burner 16. The water conducting elements |45 are of the same construction as the elements 80, 8|, but are vertically disposed. The vaporizers |46 are of the same construction as the form shown in Figure 3. Housing section |50 is formed with a series of spaced openings |52 having threaded walls and with a series of spaced openings |53 of greater diameter than the openings |52. These latter are arranged between and spaced from the openings |53.

The casting |41 is hollow and is formed of a concave bottom part |54, an annular side part |55 and a convex top part |56, which is supported below and spaced from the housing section |50 as at |10. The bottom part |54 is formed with a series of downwardly directed outwardly inclined ports |54', and axially thereof with an opening |54 having its walls registering with the inner face of a short Vdepending nipple |54'". The top part |56 is formed with a series of spaced openings |57 and a series of upstanding integral necks |58 having their inner faces flush with the edges of openings |57. The necks |58, in proximity to their upper ends, are formed with annular peripheral flanges |59. The necks |58 are formed with internal and external threads |66, |6| respectively. The necks constitute intakes for the combustion chamber |43 provided by the casting |41. The necks |58 extend upwardly through the openings |53 and have connected to the external threads |6| thereof internally threaded collars |62 which coact with the flanges |59 for suspending casting |41 within housing |48 from housing section |50. The suspension arrangement provided for expansion of necks |58, by the gap |10, and for the spacing of the combustion chamber from housing |48. Extending into the upper ends of and secure-d to the inner faces of the necks |58 are the burners |42.

The Water conducting elements HB5 extend into the openings |52 and are anchored to the housing section |50 by lock nuts |6211.. The housing |48, that portion of the depending extension |63 thereof above its ange |64, the inner portion of burners |42 and the inner portions of Velements |135 are encompassed by a body |65 of insulating material. The body |65 is enclosed by a metallic shell |66 through the top of which project the burners |62 and element |45 Otherwise than that as stated, the modified form shown in Figures 5 and 6 will be constructed similar to the form shown in Figures 1 to 4.

Although the preferred construction is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be made therein which fall within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

What I claim is:

In a prime mover, a housing forming anv upstanding closed top expansion chamber in which is generated a superheated driving medium, a structure providing a combustion chamber including a series of spaced tubular parts passing upwardly through said top, means coacting with said parts and top for suspending said combustion chamber within and in spaced relation to the sides and bottom of the expansion chamber, a series of burners, each extending in and opening into the upper portion of a tubular part, said burners and parts having coacting means for securing them together, water vapor supply elements opening into the expansion chamber, anchored in the top of the latter and arranged between sai-d burners, said structure being formed with spaced openings for establishing communication between the combustion chamber and the sides of the expansion chamber, said structure having means in its bottom for establishing cornmunication between the lower portion of the combustion chamber and the lower portion of the expansion chamber, and said expansion chamber having an outlet in its bottom for conducting 30 off the driving medium toV a point of utilization.

THOMAS J REES. 

